Electric water heater



Feb. 7, 1939. 4 1 s. L OSEE 2,146,022

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER '/Nl/E N TE JoJfPH 5. L c1955 c/yorney Feb. 7, l1939.

J. S. LOSEE ELECTRIC WATER HEATER Filed Aug. 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INI/EN TOP Jos/SPH 5, OSCE amai? Patented Feb. 7, 1939 I UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC WATER HEATER i Joseph S. Losee, Hebron, Ill., assigner to Losce 'Y Products Company, Hebron, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 5, 1932, Serial No. 157,474

y 11 Claims. (Cl. 21S-39) The present invention relates to water heaters secured thereto in any suitable manner. Mem- Which arel particularly adapted for dairy use, ber I is provided with a suitable number of wherein the heating is preferably by electric cursockets I1 to which supporting legs I8 are secured.

MAR 1 2 1940 rent and thetemperature of the water is main- The water tank is preferably supported on l tained continuously by means of a thermally member I5 by means of wood strips ISI-I9. 5 controlled switch. Member I5 is provided with a circular opening 2U One of the objects of the present invention having an annular flange 2I which is adapted to fis to provide economical means for maintaining act as a. positioner and support for an annular a constant supply of hot water ready at all times, member 22. This member extends to within a l0 and wherein whena certain quantity of hot water short distance of member I2 as illustrated in 10 is desired an equal quantity of cold water is Figure2 and forms a chamber C. poured into an open receptacle provided for the Thus when the insulating material 25 is packed purpose, the added cold water acting to displace into the space between members l2 and I5 and an equal quantity of hot water. between members 22, II) and I3 and betweeen ll A further object of the present invention is members II and I4, the water tank is completely to provide means whereby the loss of heat by insulated against passage of heat from the tank conduction or radiation is reduced to a minimum. to its housing enclosure.

A further object of the present invention is to Member -D comprises an electric heating eles'upply convenient means for access to the ment which is preferably screw threaded into a m thermostat and heating element whereby they ange as at 30. MemberE comprises athermally may be conveniently inspected, removed and reoperated switch having an electrical connection Placed. to element D and suitable feed wires 3I-3I Another object of the present invention is to which preferably extend through an insulated provide a chamber for the heating and controlopening in member 23 and lead preferably to a u ling means, whereby the heating. element -may be wall socket 32 which is secured to member I3 as 25 removed for draining the water from the illustrated in Figure \1. Thus when unit A is container. suitably positioned it may easily be connected .to

An important object of the present invention is a source of electrical supply. to provide means whereby the water cannot be I provide a lid 23 having clips 24--24 which are so drained from the container by accident or adapted to removably secure the lid to member carelessness. I5 forming a complete enclosure. After members To these and other useful ends my invention D and E are. positioned in chamber C this chamconsists of parts, combinations thereof or their ber may also be packed with insulating material, equivalents and mode of operation as described and closed by member 23. and claimed and shown in the accompanying The thermal device and its switch will operdrawings in which: ate as follows: The switch may be adjusted Fig. l is a front elevation of my complete heatto close its circuit say when the temperature of ins unit including a conventional washing tank. the water `1n the bottom of the tank falls below Fig. 2 is a vertical elevation of my invention 170 and the heating element will then act to o sectioned on line 2-2 of Figure 1. raise the temperature and when the temperature 40 As thus illustrated, the present invention is of the water rises slightly above 170 switch E designated in its entirety by reference character Will bel opened, thus to disconnect the heating A and the washing tank which forms no part of element. Clearly the device will operate autothis invention but is shown for the purpose of matically to maintain a desired temperature.

illustration, is designated in its entirety by ref- Thus it will be seen by scrutinizing Figure 2, 45 erence character B. that there are no metal contacts between the I provide a closed water tank having preferably bottom of the water tank and member I5 and a cylindrical wall Ill, a top head I I and a bottom that the only metal extending to the exterior is head I2. I provide an inclosure for the water wires 3I and since chamber C may be packed 5g tank as clearly illustrated in Figure 2 having with insulating material, there can be very little 50 preferably a cylindrical wall I3, a top head Il or no radiation or conduction of heat from the and a bottom head I5. The bottom head is bottom of the tank to members I5 or 23. preferably cast integral and is provided with a One of the advantages of the design shown is peripheral ilange I6 which is adapted to be emthat when it is so desired, the tank may be u braced by the bottom edge of member I3 andis drained by simply removing the insulating ma- 55 terial in chamber C'and detaching element D. This, however, will be necessary at infrequent intervals'.

I provide novel means for supplying hot water from the water tank when needed in the following manner: A tank 33 is mounted on top of the housing as illustrated. 'I'his tank is provided with an outlet comprising a metal tube 34, a rubber hose 35,"a short metal nipple 36 which is screw threaded Iinto ilanged member 31 as illustrated. Nipple 36 is provided with a tube 38 which extends to near the bottom of the water tank as at 39.

I provide an elbow 40 whichl is screw threaded in member 31 extending preferably a short` distance below the bottom of member 31. A short nipple 4| is screw threaded into elbow 40 to which I secure a rubber hose 42. This hose is positioned at a slight downwardly extending angle to thereby prevent the'water from running back on the bottom ofthe hose and contacting member I3.

Hose 42 and 35 are each closely embraced by housing flanges as illustrated. When the tank is lled, clearly the .water level cannot rise above the bottom of the opening in'nipple 4I.

It will be understood that the water in members 38 and 40 will answer as a trap to prevent the escape of freed vapor which may gather at the surface of the water in tank I0.

Thus it will be seen that I 'provide a connection from tank 33 to Anear the bottom of the water tank and an outlet from` the top of the water tank, each of which will not conduct heat from the water tank or its contents to the housg ing, tank 33, or to the exterior, largely because members and 42 are each made from heat in lsulating material and lbecause of the fact that these members are never filled with water except f at short infrequent intervals.

The operation of the device is as follows: For example, if an operator wishesa full bucket of hot water, he simply pours a full bucket of cold water into tank 33 and an equal quantity of yhot water will then be forced from the' top of thel water tank into member'B or into some other receptacle. Clearly the cold water will accumulate atthe bottom of the tank and hot water will always drain from the top of the tank. When va fresh supply of cold water is added, the thermostat switch E will immediately connect the heat- Ling element D which will then heat the fresh supply Yof cold water to the predetermined temperature. 1

In Figure 1 I illustrate unit B for the purpose of showing a type of equipment wherein this unit is used to. wash utensils, milk cans, etc. Clearly, this unit is not necessary for the successful op-l eration o'f applicants device. It is however, desirable.

It will be noted that I vhave preferably positioned tubev 38 concentrlcally, thus member 33 may be moved with member 35k as an axis whereby the operator may placemember 33 in the most convenient position for pouring in the fresh supply of water. ri

I have illustrated my invention in its pre-ll ferred form. It will be understood that various minor changes may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as recited in the appended claims.

Having thus shown and describedmy invention I claim:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a water tank having heating means at the bottom thereof, a normally empty supply tank secured t0 let pipe having a connection into the top of said tank, whereby water poured into said supply tank will cause an equal quantity to be displaced and escape through said outlet pipe, said drain tube and outlet pipe being adapted to act as a seal to prevent the escape of freed vapor.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a. water tank having heating means at the bottom thereof, an open supply tank positioned above and spaced from the top of said water tank and having an open drain tube extending through the top of and to near the bottom of said water tank, a normally empty outlet pipe having a connection into the top of said water tank, whereby water poured into said supply tank is free to ow into said water tank and cause an equal quantity to be displaced and escape through said outlet pipe, said heating means comprising an electric heating element being extended into the bottom of said water tank and havingl an operatively connected thermostat controlled switch, whereby the water in said water tank will be heated and held to a predetermined temperature, the portion of said drain tube between said tanks being made of a heat resisting material.

3. A device of the class described, comprising an inclosure having therein a closed water tank of a size to thereby provide an insulating space therebetween, an open supplytank positioned above said inclosure having a normally empty tube -extending through the upper ends of said inclosure and water tank and extending to near the bottom of said water tank, a normally empty open water outlet connection in the top of said tank and extending transversely through said insulating space, an electric heating element ex- `thereof and having an operatively connected thermally controlled switch in heat exchange contact with said tank whereby the water tem.- perature in said tank will be automatically maintained, and whereby aquantity of water poured into said supply tank will cause an equal quantity to escape from said water tank through said outlet tube.

, 4. A device of the class described, comprising an linclosure having therein a closed water tank of a size to 4provide aninsulating space therebetween being filled with an insulating material, an open supply tank positioned above said device having a drain tube extending through the upper heads of said inclosure and water tank and to near the bottom of said water tank, an open water outlet connection in the top of said water tank and extending through said insulating space, an electric heating element in heat exchange contact with the water in said.'tank near the bottom thereof and having an operatively connected thermally controlled switch whereby the waterv temperature in said tank will be automatically vmaintained, and whereby a quantity of water poured into said supply tank will cause an equal quantity to escape through said outlet tube, said drain tube and outlet connection being positioned to thereby remain normally empty in the portion passing through said insulating material.

5. A device of the class described, comprising an enclosure having therein a closed water tank of a size to thereby provide an insulating space therebetween, an open supply tank positioned above said enclosure having a drain tube extending through the wall of said enclosure, through amenazas said insulating space and into said water tank terminating near the bottom thereof, an outlet connection at the top of said water tank extending through said insulating space to the exterior, the portion of said outlet connection extending through said insulating space and to the end of the tube being adapted to remain normally empty and to also cause said open supply tank and its drain tube to remain normally empty toa point adjacent the top of said Water tank, whereby a quantity of water poured into said supply tank will ilow into said water tank and cause an equal quantity to escape through said outlet tube, an electric heating element positioned at or near the bottom of said tank and adapted to heat the water therein and being operatively connected to a thermally controlled switch, said switch being in heat exchange relation with said tank and having means whereby the water in said tank may be automatically maintained at a predetermined temperature.

6. A device of the class described, comprising an enclosure having therein a normally full liquid tank of a size to provide an insulating space therearound being filled with a heat insulating material, an open supply tank positioned above said device having a drain tube extending through the upper heads of said inclosure and water tank and to near the bottomof said tank,

. an open water outlet tube in thetop of said liquid tank and extending i through said insulating space, an electric heating element extending into said tank near the bottom thereof and having an operatively connected thermally controlled switch in heat exchange contact with said tank whereby the water temperature in said tank will be automatically maintained, and whereby a quantity of water poured into said supply tank will cause an equal quantity to escape from said liquid tank through said outlet tube,

'7. A device of the class described, comprising a housing having therein a closed tank of a size to provide a space therearound 'being filled with insulating material, means in the bottom of said tank for heating liquid therein, a vertically positioned supply tube extending through saidinsulating material and the topsl of said housing and tank to near the bottom of said tank, an open liquid outlet tube connection in the top of said tank and extending to the exterior of said housing, the part of said supply and outlet tube extending through said insulating material being made from heat insulating material to thereby prevent heat transfer from said tank to said housing or to the exterior, said supply and outlet tubes being positioned to thereby remain normally empty in the portion thereof which is positioned in said insulated space.

8. A device ofthe class described, comprising a housing having therein a closed water tank leaving a space therearound being filled with insulating material, means near the bottom of said tank adapted to heat the water therein, a supply tank positioned above said housing and having an open drain connection through the top heads of said housing and water tank and extending downward to near the bottom of said wate-r tank, an open outlet pipe extending from the top of said water tank through said insulating material and housing, whereby when a quantity of water is placed in said supply tank it will flow into said water tank and cause an equal quantity to be displaced and escape through said outlet pipe, portions of said outlet connection and drain pipe in said space being made from heat insulating material, said portions being positioned whereby they will remain normally clear of liquid.

9. A device of the. class described, comprising a housing having therein a Aclosed liquid tank of a size to thereby provide a space therearound and being lled with insulating material, means at the bottom of said tank for heating the liquid therein, normally open inlet and outlet connectank, a normally empty outlet tube in the top of said tank, the portions of said inlet and outlet tubes extending through said insulating covering being made from heat insulating material, said inlet connection having means to conduct the liquidl to near the bottom of said tank.

11. A device of the class described, comprising in combination a normally full water tankA hav- `ing a heat insulating container, means adapted to heat the water in the bottom of said tank by means of heat exchange contact therewith, means for draining water from the top of s ald tank, a vertically and centrally positioned inlet pipe extended to near the bottom of the tank and r protruding through said container, a ller tank having a rotatable drain connection at one side to said protruding end, said filler tank having supporting means being spaced from said protruding end, whereby it may be rotated and supported in any desired position around said protruding end.

l JOSEPH S. LOSEE. 

